Pride & Prejudice | BBC Adaptation VS Movie (2005)

Pride & Prejudice |  

BBC Adaptation VS Movie (2005) |

•  The Casting

I found the casting of the '95 BBC adaptation to be more apt for the characters. The cast of the miniseries quite successfully pulled off the witty and savage words especially Jennifer Ehle(Lizzie Bennet) and Colin Firth(Fitzwilliam Darcy). While the movie might have gotten the dialogues said and acted word to word, the  BBC adaptation tends to take the viewers into a different world.

  The role of Mrs. Bennet, the high pitched and constantly nagging mother was played by Alison Steadman wonderfully in comparison to Brenda Blethyn who played Mrs. Bennet in the movie. The BBC adaptation's Benjamin Whitrow portrays the witty Mr. Bennet with a wicked sense of humour as though it might seem he's not actually acting, whereas the Movie miserably fails to give the character of Mr.Bennet the praise he deserves.

When it comes to Elizabeth Bennet it only gets harder. Comparing between Jennifer Ehle's fiery and haughty Lizzie and Keira Knightley's empowered and liberated Lizzie. I have come to understand that Ehle's acting is far superior than Knightey's (not that i hate Keira Knightley, I just think she should stick to playing Elizabeth Swann). Knightley seems to be awfully shy in front of darcy which really is the opposite of the character she is supposed to portray. Her acting skills simply did not match up to the ones required for depicting the character of Elizabeth.

Ehle's elizabeth is a fierce girl who is ready to stand up to social expectations, she does not hesitate to defend her family, no matter how they act. I feel Ehle's Smile conveys sentiments words cannot and that sardonically witty arched brow gives more definition to the character. 

However when it comes to Fitzwilliam Darcy there seems to be no competition. The blank and Expressionless acting of Matthew Macfadyen almost insults the character itself. Colin Firth being the universally loved Darcy had won my respect and love the moment he appeared on the screen. 

*stops for a minute to fangirl

Firth Portrayed both the cold, gruff and stern side of Darcy, as well as the loving and the 'would do a  anything in the world to make lizzie happy' side of Darcy with ease, as though he really was the character. I cannot stress enough about how Colin Firth is hands down the best, the absolute and obvious winner to this almost non-existent competition as to who is the superior Darcy.

• Proclamation Of Love 

As much as I don't want to sound like another one of those people who hate the movie, I have to say that the Darcy's proclamation of Love for Elizabeth in the BBC adaptation was far better than the one in the movie. Is it just me or does anyone else hate the fact that people think they can make a scene better by adding rain to it. It seems really cliche, in all honesty. I mean, isn't it enough that her emotions are in such a mess that you need to add rain to it?

*internally rolls eyes

Unlike the film, the miniseries shows clearly how both Darcy and Elizabeth feel during that scene as you can see all these complex thoughts in their actions and faces. Colin Firth is seen to be restless. One moment he is pacing and the other he turns towards her and then all of a sudden he turns his back on her. This conveys that he is conflicted because of his feelings. His character is confused as his heart tells him that he loves her but his pride doesn't let him see past the social inequality. Elizabeth however is unmoving except for the occasional twitch of the eye and the gritting of teeth which indicates that she is controlling her rage.

The film scene has quite successfully reduced this epic romance scene to the ground.

• Pemberley and Important scenes after that

The Pemberley shown both in the Movie and the Miniseries was almost similar. With the same fantastic architecture and serene freshwater lake in front of it. However the scenes following the introduction to Pemberley in the movie were not to my liking. The Miniseries quite victoriously portrayed my favorite scene from the movie, that is 'The Walk that changed Perception'. It is one of the key scenes in this novel which helps make it one of  the most loved romance in the history of literature. 
 The scene comes after Darcy arrives at pemberly a day early and meets Elizabeth there who was visiting with the Gardeners. After an awkward exchange between them Darcy goes inside the house and Lizzie rushes to leave pemberley Expressing that she was too embarrassed. Just as the Gardeners and Lizzie were about to leave, Darcy arrives again (Properly dressed this time) and persuades them to take a walk with him across the grounds. Lizzie as well as her Aunt and Uncle are surprised by his behaviour. Though they hadn't met him till now Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner wee told about his reputation to act cold and rude. As Mr. Darcy joins them for a walk, Darcy and Elizabeth make conversation and Darcy seems to be remarkably polite. Lizzie assures Darcy that she came only because she thought that he was away. Darcy tells her that he has just arrived to prepare his home for a group of guests that includes the Bingleys and his own sister, Georgiana. He asks Elizabeth if she would like to meet Georgiana, and Elizabeth replies that she would. 
This scene is predominant as it shows Lizzie's feelings and opinions towards Darcy undertaking a drastic change, though we could observe her feeling changing a bit when the truth about Mr. Wickham was revealed.

• End scene

Okay! with me so far?
*lets out deep breath 
Let's compare the last scenes. 
In the movie the end scene starts with Knightley just randomly get up at an early hour and walking out in the garden. Did the movie makers plan to cut out all the key scenes out of the movie? 
What happened to the beautiful scene in the where Darcy and Elizabeth take a walk again in Longbourne. 

 

Besides  does no one else find the fact that Darcy in the movie is randomly walking near her house at such an odd time in the morning creepy? 

Also It seems as though the Macfayden has learned the dialouges, is saying the dialouges but does not gives the right expression, and  what was that with saying 
" I love...love... Love you" 

 everyone can say 'I love you' without stuttering unlike you, Matthew Macfayden

Honestly It doesn't make a dialouge better by repeating some words!
Don't  get me started on knightley saying "Your hands are cold " after Darcy expresses his love for her.

The scene in longbourne where Lizzie and Darcy take a walk togeteher again not only confirms us about Darcy and Lizzie's affection for each other but also we see similarities to 'the walk that changed Perception'. Aside from the fact that they are walking beside each other, in the first walk Lizzie was developing feelings for Darcy but later on she was confirming her feelings for him.

The mini series ends with a double wedding (Now, you would have to be some sort of monster not to like this ending!). We catch a glimpse of everyone including Lizzie, Jane, Bingley and darcy ofcourse, as well as Kitty, Lydia, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Georgiana, Miss Bingley(not looking very pleased), Mr. and Mrs.Collins and Mr. and Mrs. Gardener. The ending gives off a positive feeling. Everyone who loves them is present with them.

This Sir and Madam's is my faithful narrative of all my dealings with both the Miniseries and the movie
~ Ananya Singhal
    14|9|2020